ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that construction of water reservoirs will not only fulfil water needs but will also ensure provision of affordable electricity to meet energy requirements of the country.
Talking to Chairman Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Lt Gen (retd) Muzammil Hussain, who called on him on Monday, the prime minister directed him to take necessary steps to complete the construction work of new dams within the stipulated time.
The prime minister said expensive electricity causes price hike and inflation while inexpensive power generation from dams brings prices of daily use commodities down. He said that the construction of hydropower projects is imperative for sustainable economic growth and agricultural production, besides bringing prices of daily commodities and inflation down.
The chairman Wapda apprised the prime minister of the progress in the construction work on the continuing big dams under the prime minister’s vision of ‘Decade of Dams.’
Separately, presiding over a meeting on Monday to get an update on the establishment of Universal Pakistan Emergency Helpline 911, Prime Minister Khan said that protection of life and property of the people is the primary responsibility of the government.
The prime minister directed the concerned authorities to remove all obstacles in the commencement of service as soon as possible to curb crime in the country.
The prime minister was informed that all necessary work including inter-provincial liaison has been completed and the helpline will be ready for regular opening by the first week of October this year.
The prime minister hoped the launch of this helpline would help ensure peace and security in the country by enabling timely action against crime.
